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With the growth of internet use and online learning, there is one question that parents and educators throughout the U.S. are asking most: Will kids learn virtually in the future? Judging by the success that college-level online learning has seen, the logical progression is for elementary-, middle-, and high school students to participate in online classes as well. While there are sure to be some fully-online school, it is highly unlikely that schools as we know them will disappear altogether.

For various reasons, many parents prefer the virtual classroom over the brick-and-mortar kind. Unlike in a typical classroom, online curricula can be customized, allowing students to progress at a pace that best serves their individual learning styles. And the learning experience still involves face-to-face interaction with via the use of webcams. There are still quizzes, reading and writing assignments, and physical textbooks sent through the mail. And though technology glitches can present a problem, it’s getting better.

There are already a few accredited online K-through-12 programs, such as the Laurel Springs School, based out of Ojai, California, and Global Virtual Classroom, which serves students in many countries. But prior to enrolling a child in a virtual classroom, parents need to arm themselves with the right information, asking such questions as “What is the student-teacher ratio?”, “How will my child be assessed?” and “What type of curriculum will my child be taught?”

As students transition into the virtual classroom, the adjustment period can be lengthy and demanding. Students at a younger age will need to adjust to a college-level type of environment, where taking responsibility for one’s own learning is imperative. These requisite organizational skills place more of an onus on the child, rather than on a teacher or parent, to get their work done.

Further, although much interaction exists between students and teachers online, maintaining a true interpersonal connection is likely not possible. As an article on Global Post states, “To build and maintain personal and professional relationships,” traditional classrooms “offer greater personal contact with other students.” A lack of socialization outside of the classroom may produce deficits in a child’s lifelong development.

On the plus side, teachers in a virtual classroom may interact with a student for longer time spans than one teaching to 35+ students in a typical class. And online teachers will be able to focus more on teaching rather than classroom management. Also, unlike in a brick-and-mortar class, students will have the opportunity to pose questions as they arise.

As of 2011, the U.S. Department of Education has conducted 51 major studies on virtual education, but only seven of these have concentrated on elementary grades. The results have been mixed: while some studies have reported scores from online classes as being lower in math and reading, other studies suggest that elementary reading and math scores have matched or exceeded those of traditional schools.

For now, as traditional classrooms continue to incorporate elements of online learning, educators will need to further develop the skills for teaching in such a setting. Parents, too, must educate themselves in order to prepare children for the new experience

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